Handicaped riders

[Pup]

First off I want to say that I am a 70% Disabled Combat Veteran (Beirut Lebanon 1983) with a fused ankle and one of my lower right leg bones (fibula) just dangles loose inside my leg, a bad right knee, a crushed lumbar vertebra with several crushed disks & traumatic arthritis, plus a host of other medical problems. Yes I can walk and sometimes although rarely, without pain. Today I had several folks looking at my trike then came up to me to say that I should be ashamed of myself for having the audacity to have the handicap symbol on my Disabled Veteran trike license plate. And there was no way I could be either disabled or handicapped if I can ride a motorcycle. One even went as far as to tell me she thought I should get a ticket if I ever parked in a disabled spot. I said I rarely ever use a disabled spot unless I am in so much pain that walking becomes a chore. I then told them I converted the bike to a trike because the weight of it was becoming too much for me to operate safely. Then they went on to say that the DPS should remove my license to ride motorcycles at all if I was "SO HANDICAPPED". No matter what I said to these folks, their minds were made up and man were they hateful. And what's worse I was in a Walmart parking lot at the far end of the lot away from the building at the time. There were a bunch of open handicap spaces up front that I could have legally parked in, but this time I decided my foot was not too bad today, so I left a space open for someone who might need it more than me.

Has anyone else in here ever had something like this happen to them? I was afraid to go inside the store for fear one of the idiots might have done something to my trike while I was not looking.

What a crazy world we live in....

Sorry for ranting but damn it gets frustrating sometimes...

Pup

 

[Nana]

What I'm really thinking of those sorts of comments (and the people who make them) I shouldn't put here. Suffice it to say that there are a few people in this world who are totally ignorant, rude, inappropriate, etc., etc. You must have met up with at least half of them today! I am so sorry to hear something like that, Pup. Sounds like you handled them with a great deal of grace.... more than most of us could!

And even more importantly, thank you for your self sacrifice and service on behalf of all of us -- even those ignorant, rude, inappropriate, etc., etc., citizens!

 

[Pup]

Nana, In retrospect... I'm amazed that I was that calm under fire *wink*. Maybe I'm just getting wiser in my later years. LOL

As they say in the song...

You can't please every one... Ya gotta please yourself!

Pup

 

[katfish16]

Pup, welcome to the board, and thank you for your service to our country..

I too am a DAV, and have tags on my trucks, not my trike, however it seems as some people feel you should be riding in a junk vehicle instead of something nice. I think they think since you are getting a disability check you should be living from paycheck to paycheck.. I recently heard a radio show on this, it was unreal what some people were saying..
All I can say is we live within our means, and since I put in 28 yrs, the disability check is taken out of my retirement check!! So enjoy urself and just kill them with kindness. You have already given enough...

Ride safe and enjoy.....

 

[grimm]

so...they don't think a disabled rider can or should ride? i'll send you a picture of me that you can hand out. a one-armed biker shooting the bird with his only hand.

you will undoubtedly face ignorance as it runs rampant in out society, but don't let them phase you or your attitude. you don't owe them an explanation for who or what you do.

peace and respect,

grimm

 

[Gorilla]

Pup I commend you on your handling of the situation. I usually encounter the other end of handicap parking. Once a year I work a parking lot at Homestead Raceway for the Nascar races for 3 days. I request and am assigned to a handicap parking lot. During the 3 days I usually seize 60 to 80 handicap placards from people trying to park there that are not handicapped. Usually its their mother/fathers or friends that they take to try and get in. The lot is free for handicap and is closer to the track. In Florida it is a misdemeanor criminal to do that. We are far to busy to arrest them but the law says we take the placard and we do. They do not get it back. The person it belongs to has to re-apply. Whenever I am on patrol I check the handicap places looking for violators. The locals are very respectful of these places but the tourists and out of towner's are the greatest violators. They get the message the ticket is $365 in Monroe County.

 

[Ozarkryder]

The south end of a north facing horse will find it very hard to switch ends. We have the wheelchair plates for Gloria, she doesn't have any obvious outward sign of a disability, and sometimes get the attitude. We just chuckle, ignore and go about our business. For the few that get really upity and say they should call the cops, we say please do - we will be glad to wait with you. I have even offered to lend them my cell if they didn't have one. They get quiet real quick.

 

[pin-hi]

I ride a trike instead of a bike because I'm missing both legs below the knee from a railway accident 34 years ago.

If anyone ever hassles me about using the handicapped parking, which may happen eventually as I walk without canes or crutches, I'll just ask them if they'd like to get hit upside the head with one of my artificial legs!

 

[magusjinx]

Reminds me of a lady that I used to care for ( I am a private care provider) ... She was wheelchair bound and had a 3/4 ton van with a lift on the right side ... We used to go shopping and I would put out orange cones in the next spot to keep it open so I could load her when she was done ... I even had a light chain attached to the cones and a "Please stay at least 8 feet away" sign on the side doors ... There were blue handicap stickers on all sides and a tag in the window too ... Some people would actually move the cones to park ... I bet they hated being paged in the store to "please move your vehicle" ...

Some people are just idiots ...

 

[Pup]

It's ok there are ignorant people in the world. Their guns are loud but all they shoot is blanks. I'm ok... I was just taken back and shocked.

 

[ricle41]

When I read your post (after my first flash of anger passed) I had a quick thought that I was glad that wouldn't happen in my town. Then I remembered several years back when we owned and operated a retail variety store here on main street.
One afternoon a lady entering our store had an epiliptic fit. Myself, and a man from accross the street put a pillow under her head, a blanket over her legs, and were holding her arms down so she didn't hurt herself as she thrashed around on the floor.
A customer walked into the store, stepped over the lady, and asked me if we had a certain item and where was it. I admit I stuttered before getting any kind of answer for him.
The point is, there are idiots everywhere, and we can run into them anytime. You handled the situation with more grace than most could, and proved once again that those of us who appreciate your service to the country are far too silent, far too often. Thank You and enjoy the ride.

 

[FBTRIKE]

First, thank you for your service and for what you have sacrificed. I think you handled the situation well and with a great deal of restraint, which speaks volumes as too the kind of man you are. I hate to admit it, but I would probably not have handled it as well. I would have lost my temper and let a few choice words fly. Knowing only a little of what you have gone through in your sevice for our country and still keeping your cool with such idiots, is amazing to me. A great example for others to follow.

Thanks again.

 

[bdn56]

Pup, I have to admit several years ago my attitude was similar to those you met recently
I never voiced my opinion thinking they will get theirs one day.
Some were driving big new cars and trucks and I was doing all I could do to drive a vehicle that started most of the time.

Well, the opinion "they will get theirs one day" happened to me.

I can't take back all those mean thoughts I had.

Like Katfish says "my VA disability is payed out of my VA retirement
I am in the same boat as he is.

You handled yourself with respect and you should be admired.

Thanks for your service and keep up the good work.:yes:

 

[Greydog]

Pup.....Welcome to the board and thank you for your service!! I'm a 65 year old Vietnam combat vet and by the grace of God left that place in one piece. Many of my pals were not so fortunate. At my age I probably only have one good fight left in me, but had I been with you I fear I would have had to use it on those numbnuts!!! Anger does not come close to describing what I feel about those inconsiderate a$$wipes!!!

 

[ultratrike]

I to have disabled plates on my trike and my truck and my wife has a plaicid in her car for me as I can not walk and breathe but I can set all day. That is why I have a trike. I also spent a year in vetnam fighting so those idiots can say that . SO THEY CAN KISS MY A--.

 

[shiney b.]

pup
just listen to those of us that appreciate your service to us, and for your sacrifice. the rest are just loud-mouth bozos who cannot feel gratitude for anything, or anyone, but will sure enjoy the benefits of the sacrifices of others.
although i've never been in the military, i have the utmost admiration for those who were, and those currently serving.
i can't say it loud enough. THANK YOU
dave

 

[wingking51]

Pup,
I admire your ability to keep your cool in this situation. Someday I hope these idots realize that they have committed a wrong toward you. I hope that you get an apology from them. I could not have kept my cool if I would have been there.

People need realize that you can't judge a book by the cover. I would like to salute you and all veterans who have served this country proudly! I thank you for your service and sacrifice for me and my family! THANKYOU VERY MUCH !!!!!!

 

[Pup]

It's just something I heard many moons ago when a Gunny Sargent I knew had someone attempting to goad him into a fight by calling him names and by bad mouthing the Marine Corps. The Gunny calmly but firmly told him "Although I disagree with your opinion, I'm willing to fight and give my life to protect your right to have one." The guy fell silent then thought about those words. Then he shrugged and walked away. After that I was changed inside. I have never had another fight with anyone. Prior to that I was a scrapper that would fight with anyone for any reason. Then Gunny whispered to me "No matter how f%^&ed up your opinion is". We both laughed and it was my turn to buy the beer...

I appreciate all of your thanking me for my service, honestly you flatter me too much. I'm not special, I was just a Navy Corpsman doing my job as a Marine Corps Medic. As have many before and many that came after. I was just unlucky enough to be in several places nobody should be. And lucky enough to always make it home after.

Thank you all for being you

 

[trike lady]

In the area where I live owners of vans, cars and trucks that area handicapped owned don't get annoyed and bother people's trikes with handicapped tags, they get more ticked off if they see a regular motorcycle in the space with a handicapped tag and many would surely like to move it, especially those with vans with side entry lifts.
There are many people who assume that if you ride a trike you have a physical disability. I knew a gentleman in his 70's who rode a trike up until he passed away and one who is in his 90's and rides a 1994 GW trike; both had/have handicapped tags on their trikes.
Thank you,
Trike Lady
:2cents:

 

[magusjinx]

Pup ... Now ya got me thinking ...And that can sometimes be a bad thing ...

Handicap Stickers

Handicapped Bumper Stickers - CafePress

Stickers - Sticker Giant

Some of these are way kewl ...

 

[TRIKERBOB69]

Pup, welcome to the board, and thank you for your service to our country..

I too am a DAV, and have tags on my trucks, not my trike, however it seems as some people feel you should be riding in a junk vehicle instead of something nice. I think they think since you are getting a disability check you should be living from paycheck to paycheck.. I recently heard a radio show on this, it was unreal what some people were saying..
All I can say is we live within our means, and since I put in 28 yrs, the disability check is taken out of my retirement check!! So enjoy urself and just kill them with kindness. You have already given enough...

Ride safe and enjoy.....

DITTO, katfish has it nailed,,, I float in the same boat, I use to get so mad as to take off my shirt and show the idiots the entry and exit wounds, then show them my hip, its pretty shocking the first time you look at it, but since I am older and wiser I simply off them my cell phone to dial up the local Police, you served, you sacrificed and you have the right to that damn tag,,, so keep it and ride PROUD,,,,Hope to see you on the road, just letting you know you are not alone!!